Ranching.com is your weekly dose of trending news, seasonal tips, and community content put together by our team of ranchers.

NEWS

🍔 No More Meatless McD’s

🍔 No More Meatless McD’s - McDonald’s is discontinuing its plant-based McPlant burger in the U.S. due to poor sales in test markets. Despite some initial success in California, Texas, and other states, demand fell sharply after expanding to more locations. McDonald’s president Joe Erlinger stated that U.S. consumers are not seeking plant-based proteins from the chain. Additionally, salads will not return to the menu, but McDonald’s plans to focus on more chicken options, which are popular and cost-effective. The McRib is expected to make a comeback in 2024, and breakfast bagels, reintroduced in select locations, may be available nationwide later this year.

🌀 Hurricane Preparedness - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-normal hurricane season for 2024. Livestock owners should prepare by ensuring essentials are ready and having a plan to keep animals safe. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory emphasizes the increased risk of animal disease outbreaks during natural disasters. Brandon Dominguez, DVM, advises securing enough feed and water for at least three days, identifying high ground for evacuation, and stocking up on insect repellent. Regular vaccinations and close monitoring for signs of stress and illness are crucial to protect livestock during and after hurricanes.

📈 Mid-Year Markets - As we reach mid-2024, the fed market has hit record prices of $196, a $100+/cwt increase since the 2020 COVID low. Despite some skepticism about inflation effects, current inflation-adjusted prices far exceed those of 2011-2019. Contrary to beliefs about lower beef production driving the market, fed beef production has surged. The market's success highlights the benefits of a consumer-focused approach and minimal government intervention, with investments in quality and research proving beneficial.

ᨎ More Tick Troubles - Boone County, Arkansas, has reported the invasive Asian longhorned tick, which carries Theileria orientalis, a parasite deadly to cattle. Discovered in Arkansas in 2018, the tick has spread to multiple counties. University of Arkansas researchers are monitoring tick populations and disease transmission. With an increase in ticks and cases of Theileria orientalis in cattle, producers are urged to stay informed about disease risks and prevention methods through local resources and upcoming webinars hosted by agriculture organizations.

🍖 BBQ Budgets - Amid the summer grilling season, the cost of a barbecue is now averaging $99, possibly marking the end of sub-$100 prices. Factors like geopolitical crises, severe drought, and inflation have driven food prices to historic highs. Consumers are responding by cutting back on purchases and seeking bargains, with Gen Z and millennials leading the trend. Despite inflation fatigue, savvy shopping tips for beef cuts are emerging, offering quality at reasonable prices as the industry adapts to tighter supplies and economic challenges, setting new price records throughout the season.

 🐄 No Rebuilding Near - In a recent cattle sale, an unexpected trend emerged: older cows, typically seen as depreciating assets, fetched top prices. This challenges conventional wisdom on breeding and selling strategies, emphasizing the importance of a pragmatic, math-driven approach to capitalize on market shifts. While some advocate for futures markets for price discovery, the preference lies in transparent cash markets for gauging true value. The lesson? Adaptability and reasoned analysis are crucial in navigating today's market complexities.

🌡 Beat the Heat - Heat stress in cattle is caused by environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. Cattle on pasture cope better than feedlot cattle, which struggle due to poor sweating and heat from rumen fermentation. The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) helps assess stress but doesn't fully account for accumulated heat. Signs of heat stress include reduced feed intake, restlessness, slobbering, and increased respiration. To mitigate stress, handle cattle early, provide cool water and shade, ensure air flow, and control flies to prevent bunching, which reduces cooling.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Creep Grazing

Unlike traditional grain-based creep feeding, which often isn't cost-effective for commercial cow/calf operations, creep grazing can be a more economical solution. By using nutrient-rich forages like legumes, millet, and sorghum-sudan grass in warm seasons, and rye, oats, and wheat in cool seasons, producers can achieve additional calf gains. Methods for implementing creep grazing include using creep gates or a single strand of electric wire. Creep grazing can increase daily gains by 10-20%, with improvements dependent on pasture quality. Additionally, creep grazing avoids the price discounts associated with overly fat calves and is less likely to negatively impact replacement heifers' future milk production.

Making the Most of Forage Resources

In a recent Cattle Chat podcast, K-State Beef Cattle Institute nutritionist Phillip Lancaster discussed how cattle producers can identify the best forage for their operations. He highlighted that the optimal forage depends on the operation's needs and environment. Cool-season annuals like triticale, wheat, and rye, planted in the fall, offer grazing in late fall and early winter and can be re-grazed or harvested for hay in spring. However, these crops need to be harvested within a short window for optimal quality. Lancaster also mentioned following cool-season crops with warm-season ones like sudan or pearl millet.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Did you read a great ranching article last week? See a solid cattle social media post that caught your eye? We want to know!

Submit articles, social posts, podcasts, and more to be featured in next week’s newsletter. Submissions should focus on tips, tricks, and industry news related to agriculture, cattle, farming, ranching, and similar topics.

RANCHING AROUND THE WORLD RECAP

🇮🇪 Factory quotes: Up to 10c/kg cut to cattle prices this week [Agriland]

🇬🇧 New European Parliament ‘must prioritise its own farmers’ – ICSA [Agriland]

CATTLE COMMUNITY

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

READER POLL

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS

Bullish

• “The markets have already gotten stronger than I had expected. I think they will rise a little more until after the summer video sales. In my opinion the markets are good, but they have just caught up to the cost of the production of the cattle.”

• “It’s supply and demand. This newsletter cites the American cattle herd is at its lowest number since 1962. Despite the efforts of radical anti-meat activists, I don’t believe the demand for beef is going away - certainly not globally.”

Bearish

• “I don’t think prices will fall out of bed, but food costs are very high.”

Uncertain

• “Hearing that the cowherd is at the lowest level since 1962 makes one think prices could continue to increase or at least remain at the current level. But in the end, the consumer controls the market, and you have to wonder how long they will continue to pay increasing prices for beef.”

GIVE FEEDBACK & WIN!